Sufferers of arthritis may experience one, several or all of the following symptoms: joint pain, swelling and inflammation, decreased mobility, decreased grip strength, degraded cartilage and, ultimately, a loss of independence. No one therapeutic ingredient may honestly claim to treat all of the above afflictions. That’s why Bonlutin contains 3. With the strength of glucosamine, shark-derived chondroitin and omega-3 fatty acids, Bonlutin takes a multi-faceted approach to combating arthritis
Keywords: glucosamine, chondroitin, omega-3 fatty acids, arthritis, joint pain, swelling, inflammation, cartilage, anti-inflammatory, bonlutin.
Do wonder drugs exist? It would be nice to think so, but it seems less than realistic to expect one magic ingredient to cure all the problems related to a particular disease. Take arthritis, for example. Sufferers may experience one, several or all of the following symptoms: joint pain, swelling and inflammation, decreased mobility, decreased grip strength, degraded cartilage and, ultimately, a loss of independence. No one therapeutic ingredient may honestly claim to treat all of the above afflictions. That’s why Bonlutin contains three. With the strength of glucosamine, shark-derived chondroitin and omega-3 fatty acids, Bonlutin takes a multi-faceted approach to combating arthritis.
SYMPTOM: ARTHRITIC INFLAMMATION
One of the key complaints among arthritis sufferers is that of inflammed joints. Wherever two bones articulate with one another in the body, they are generally prevented from rubbing directly against each other by a thin protective layer of cartilage around their heads. As time goes on and people age, the water content in bone cartilage tends to decrease due to a gradual reduction in proteoglycan (aggrecan) levels, leaving the collagen fibres within the cartilage more open to degradation. As the water and collagen within the cartilage deteriorates, the cartilage itself becomes less resilient, losing its elastic properties and wearing away, allowing bone to grind against bone. This is one of the primary causes for inflammation in the most common form of arthritis: osteoarthritis.
New adventitious bone outgrowths, known as osteophytes (or ‘spurs’), may accompany the progression of osteoarthritis, causing further pain and inflammation and impeding normal movement as they grind against bone, muscle and tendons.
For rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, inflammation occurs as part of a systemic auto-immune disorder that predominantly affects the synovial joints. Due to an aberrant immune reaction triggered by an as yet unidentified mediator, pro-inflammatory cytokines are produced and begin to attack the non-cartilaginous joint lining (synovium), bone and cartilage itself, giving rise to severe pain and inflammation. As an immune reaction, this process is systemic, commonly affecting multiple joints and eventually leading to deformities and other severe complications.
Solution: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Eicosanoids, which are among the key substances that mediate the intensity and duration of inflammation, are derived from 20-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Because inflammatory cells usually contain a high proportion of the 20-carbon omega-6 arachidonic acid (AA) compared to other omega-6 20-carbon PUFAs (20:4), AA is usually the major substrate for eicosanoid synthesis during inflammation.
The proinflammatory eicosanoids prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) are both derived from Arachidonic Acid. However, EPA (contained in fish oils) can act as a competitive inhibitor of AA conversion to PGE2 and LTB4. Comprehensive studies have therefore demonstrated the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids in decreasing the production of pro-inflammatory substances such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes and cytokines, all of which are associated with the inflammatory response accompanying arthritis.[1]
Figure 1. EPA Competitively inhibits the conversion of Arachidonic Acid to pro-inflammatory PGE2, TXA2 and LTB4. In this diagram, cyclo-oxygenase (COX) catalyses the conversion of AA to PGH2, while 5-Lipo-oxygenase catalyses AA’s conversion to LTB4. EPA competes for COX and 5-LOX at both these steps, competitively inhibiting the production of inflammatory prostaglandins, thromboxane and leukotrienes.
Solution: Glucosamine
Supplementation with glucosamine sulfate has been shown to mediate anti-inflammatory effects, inhibiting the inflammatory factor NFκB in a dose-dependent manner as well as suppressing the gene expression of pro-inflammatory mediators such as cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), PGE2, MMP-13 and Aggrecanases-1 and -2.[2, 3]
In recent years, these studies have been supported by a considerable number of clinical trials in which patients suffering from the effects of arthritis have experienced significant improvements in outcome measures such as tender joints, morning stiffness, grip strength and the interval to fatigue onset. [4]
SYMPTOM: CHRONIC PAIN
Arthritis is recognised as Australia’s – and probably the world’s – most common cause of disability and chronic pain.[5] Arthritis most commonly affects the hands, feet, knees, hips and elbows, with pain manifesting in these areas as a dull, sharp ache, often accompanied by a burning sensation experienced in muscles and tendons. Crepitus (crackling noises) may occur when joints are moved or touched, while joints may fill with fluid and nearby muscles and tendons go into spasm. Stiffness, loss of mobility and loss of independence are often the end result.
Solution: Glucosamine & Chondroitin
Glucosamine has been proven to be at least equal to conventional Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) therapy for osteoarthritis, with over 20 controlled clinical trials with more than 6000 participants judging it to be effective as a treatment for the relief of pain and functional impairment resulting from decreased mobility.[6] It has an exceptionally safe toxicity profile, and can work synergistically with chondroitin to further improve results.
SYMPTOM: CARTILAGE DEGRADATION
One of the primary causative factors of arthritis is a decrease in proteoglycan levels, which leaves cartilage more open to degradation. As the water and collagen within the cartilage deteriorates, the cartilage itself becomes less resilient, losing its cushioning, shock-absorbing properties and wearing away, allowing bone to grind against bone. Ultimately, this increase in friction within the joints can lead to inflammation, pain, swelling and loss of mobility.
Solution: Chondroitin
Chondroitin is one of the fundamental building blocks of proteoglycans – especially those types of proteoglycan most involved in the pathology of arthritis (eg. aggrecan). It plays a vital role in conferring cartilage with its cushioning and elastic properties, and also helps stabilise and regulate the extracellular matrix, in which cartilage is largely situated.
These beneficial properties can be lost as proteoglycan (and, therefore, chondroitin) levels decrease with the progression of arthritis. Therefore, supplementing with chondroitin to help replenish proteoglucan levels makes sense. As naturally-occurring chondroitin is depleted, it can be easily replaced by taking an oral supplement.
Solution: Glucosamine
In vitro studies [7, 8] have indicated that supplementing with glucosamine also increases the synthesis of proteoglycans, thereby promoting cartilage formation and repair, as well as mediating improvements in cartilage strength and elasticity. In this sense, glucosamine may be properly regarded as “food” for cartilage.
Studies have also shown glucosamine to be an effective inhibitor of several key proteolytic enzymes (such as MMP-13 and Aggrecanases-1 and -2) and other substances that contribute to cartilage degradation.[9-12] Glucosamine may therefore be viewed as beneficial for cartilage renewal while also guarding against its degradation.
SYMPTOM: JOINT MOBILITY, STRENGTH & FATIGUE
In recent years, clinical trials investigating the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine and chondroitin as therapies for the treatment of the arthritis symptoms listed above have provided evidence for the ability of these compounds to mediate significant improvements in outcome measures such as tender joints, morning stiffness, grip strength and the interval to fatigue onset.[6, 13-15]
OVERALL
These collective benefits, as well as the ability of glucosamine and chondroitin to work synergistically to enhance each other’s health effects, and the complementary role of omega-3 fatty acids in relation to these two compounds, provide strong reason to augment any arthritis treatment plan with a multi-faceted preparation such as Bonlutin. Why leave your health to chance? With Bonlutin, you can cover every angle of your arthritis treatment and get the best out of yourself, day in, day out.
Bonlutin – effective, ongoing relief from rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.
Bonlutin is a novel treatment formula combining fish oil, glucosamine and chondroitin for the management of osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis. Preliminary clinical studies have proven Bonlutin to be effective in alleviating joint inflammation, swelling and pain associated with arthritis, while increasing joint mobility.
Bonlutin may also assist in the prevention of muscular aches, pains and cramps and the management of soft tissue trauma, providing relief from the symptoms of tenosynovitis and fibromyalgia.
References
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3. Chan PS, Caron JP, Orth MW: Short-term gene expression changes in cartilage explants stimulated with interleukin beta plus glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. J Rheumatol 2006, 33(7):1329-1340.
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5. The Prevalence, Cost and Disease Burden of Arthritis in Australia In.; 2001.
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10. Chan PS, Caron JP, Orth MW: Effect of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate on regulation of gene expression of proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors in interleukin-1-challenged bovine articular cartilage explants. Am J Vet Res 2005, 66(11):1870-1876.
11. Uitterlinden EJ, Jahr H, Koevoet JL, Jenniskens YM, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Degroot J, Verhaar JA, Weinans H, van Osch GJ: Glucosamine decreases expression of anabolic and catabolic genes in human osteoarthritic cartilage explants. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2006, 14(3):250-257.
12. Chu SC, Yang SF, Lue KH, Hsieh YS, Lee CY, Chou MC, Lu KH: Glucosamine sulfate suppresses the expressions of urokinase plasminogen activator and inhibitor and gelatinases during the early stage of osteoarthritis. Clin Chim Acta 2006, 372(1-2):167-172.
13. Cleland LG, James MJ: The role of fats in the lifecycle stages. Adulthood--prevention: rheumatoid arthritis. Med J Aust 2002, 176 Suppl:S119-120.
14. Tat SK, Pelletier JP, Verges J, Lajeunesse D, Montell E, Fahmi H, Lavigne M, Martel-Pelletier J: Chondroitin and glucosamine sulfate in combination decrease the pro-resorptive properties of human osteoarthritis subchondral bone osteoblasts: a basic science study. Arthritis Res Ther 2007, 9(6):R117.
15. Monfort J, Martel-Pelletier J, Pelletier JP: Chondroitin sulphate for symptomatic osteoarthritis: critical appraisal of meta-analyses. Curr Med Res Opin 2008, 24(5):1303-1308.
